Hornets falling short of attendance goals to keep team in N.O.

Fans of the New Orleans Hornets have four games left to prove they want the team to stay in the Big Easy.

Heading into their Wednesday game against the Orlando Magic, the New Orleans Arena needed to average 14,915 fans for the five home games left in January to keep the team from breaking its lease.

Wednesday’s game drew just 13,688.

If the goals aren’t met and the team breaks its lease, the franchise still would have to pay an exit penalty to leave before 2014.

Officials working to keep the team in New Orleans had hoped that the end of the Saints season coupled with some marquee visiting teams – such as the Magic – would boost attendance and meet the goal.

So far, that isn’t the case.

The NBA took control of the team after majority owner George Shinn was unable to reach a deal to sell the franchise to a minority owner. Commissioner David Stern rebuffed an attempt by Oracle CEO Larry Ellison to buy the team and move it to San Jose, Calif. Ellison said he offered $300 million.

Stern has publicly said he wants to keep the team in New Orleans, but he has also said he will put a priority on finding stable ownership.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is also thought to be interested in buying a team and moving it to Seattle, although KeyArena is not considered a viable NBA venue in its current state and any potential owners in Seattle would have to come up with a plan to renovate KeyArena or build a new facility.